Posted on 03/25/2008 11:45:00 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Will the preachings of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright continue to be a problem for Barack Obama? The balance of opinion, after everyone has had a chance to digest Obama's March 18 speech, seems to be yes. Or at least that's how I read such varied commentators as ABC News's Jake Tapper, Charles Krauthammer, the New Republic's Dayo Opolade, University of Chicago Prof. Charles Lipson, the New York Daily News's Michael Goodwin, and the international treasure Mark Steyn in the Orange County Register.
In my Creators Syndicate column this week, I look at these comments from a somewhat different view. In Democratic primaries and caucuses, Obama has been winning extraordinary percentages of support from black voters and young voters. His support from black voters is no surprise, though one must remember that back in November 2007, only four months ago, he was running behind Hillary Clinton among blacks in some polls in some contests. His support from young voters--from the millennial generation, to use the terminology of William Strauss and Neal Howe, rose to extraordinary levels much earlier in the cycle--and was reflected not just in polling results but in volunteer efforts and campaign contributions. I cited Morley Winograd and Michael Hais's very interesting, just-published book Millennial Makeover for the proposition that these young voters find racial conflict and anger very off-putting. Obama's portrait of himself as a leader who transcends race has been very attractive, I think, to millennial voters--responsible as much as anything else for their allegiance. To these same voters, the rantings of Reverend Wright are profoundly unattractive. Will the facts that Obama has been a member of Wright's congregation for more than 20 years and has named Wright as his spiritual mentor diminish Obama in millennials' eyes? I don't know, but it's a critically important question. If the answer is yes, then the chance that Democratic superdelegates will award the nomination to Hillary Clinton seems to rise.
Not only for Obama but for the whole congregation. The people must be real foos and followers, with a thought of their own to listen to this guy. No wonder they live in poverty.
Everything going as planned. The DemocRATS are flying on autopilot and are heading directly into the side of a mountain.
I like Michael Barone calling Mark Steyn an "international treasure".
Oh, you want comments about Obama and the wrong Rev. Wright? Yeah, big problem for the NObama.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Ya think ya have the keywords covered lol?
Once you’ve seen the Rev. Wright’s video clips on TV or on YouTube, it’s hard to get them out of your head. That’s got to hurt Obama with independents, and it may even soften his support even among liberals.
What poverty? This is a pretty affluent congregation.
I was wondering if anyone knows someone who watches Oprah? Has she said anything about the pastor controversy?
THE TRUTH ABOUT BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY
...which is what Wright's sermons are all based on, and what the Trinity Church and Obama clearly espouse...yes, it will continue to be a huge problem for him. As well it should.
20 years is 20 years and no amount of “My White grandmamma etc etc “is going to change it
In fact using his grandmamma as a political expediency is going to backfire
No, can you think of some more? LOL
Not a word......as far as I know.
I judge black people by the content of their character they keep. So if Barack Obama is friends with Tony Rezko and Jeremiah Wright, then....
Pop some popcorn, open a cool drink, relax in an easy chair, put the remote in your hand, and enjoy. Its going to be a great ride.
He’s right about Steyn: he is an international treasure.
I previously made the argument that Hillary would have to choose Obama as her VP because she needed him, but that Obama would not choose Hillary because he did not need her.
With the reversal in Obama’s fortunes, though, I am now thinking I may have gotten it exactly backwards.
Obama, or, history in black and white.
It's not exactly a down-trodden area of Chicago. There are housing projects of course, but it's not an area ridden in poverty. I had relatives that lived a little West of there (in Oak Lawn) many years ago.
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